Bombing suspect charged, could face death penalty

This Friday, April 19, 2013 image made available by the Massachusetts State Police shows Dzhokhar Tsarnaev hiding inside a boat during a search for him in Watertown, Mass. (AP Photo/Massachusetts State Police).

Photo By Julio Cortez

Sue Haff, right, a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Boston, greets a man arriving at Temple Israel, which allowed the Trinity congregation to hold Sunday service, Sunday, April 21, 2013, in Boston. Trinity is within the blocked-off area near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, where earlier in the week two bombs exploded.

Photo By Julio Cortez

Members of Trinity Episcopal Church in Boston listen to a sermon at Temple Israel, which allowed the Trinity congregation hold Sunday service, Sunday, April 21, 2013, in Boston. Trinity is within the blocked off area near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, where earlier in the week two bombs exploded.

Photo By Julio Cortez

Annie Packard, 13, sings during Trinity Episcopal Church Sunday service at Temple Israel, which allowed the Trinity congregation hold service, Sunday, April 21, 2013, in Boston. Trinity is within the blocked-off area near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, where earlier in the week two bombs exploded. Packard was in the grandstands when the first bomb exploded and ran away in the direction of the second bomb, which went off 10 seconds later.

Photo By Sang Tan

A runner wears a black ribbon in memory of the victims of Boston Marathon bombings starts the race during the London Marathon, London, Sunday, April 21, 2013.

Photo By Julio Cortez

Rev. Samuel Lloyd III, of Trinity Episcopal Church in Boston, leads service at Temple Israel, which allowed the Trinity congregation to hold their service, Sunday, April 21, 2013, in Boston. Trinity is within the blocked-off area near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, where earlier in the week two bombs exploded.

Photo By Julio Cortez

Wearing his Boston Marathon runner's jacket, David Delmar, 28, second from left, a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Boston, attends a service at Temple Israel, which allowed the Trinity congregation to hold their service, Sunday, April 21, 2013, in Boston. Trinity is within the blocked-off area near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, where earlier in the week two bombs exploded. Delmar, who finished the marathon about 30 minutes before the explosions, was running his first marathon as part of charity to Trinity.

Photo By File

FILE - In this Friday, April 19, 2013 file photo obtained by The Associated Press and authenticated by a member of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, ATF and FBI agents check suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev for explosives and also give him medical attention after he was apprehended in Watertown, Mass., at the end of a tense day that began with his older brother, Tamerlan, dying in a getaway attempt. Tsarnaev lay hospitalized in serious condition under heavy guard Saturday as investigators continue piecing together the who and why of the two brothers involved in the deadly Boston Marathon bombings. Since Monday, Boston has experienced five days of fear, beginning with the marathon bombing attack, an intense manhunt and much uncertainty ending in the death of one suspect and the capture of the other.

Photo By Julio Cortez

Sue Haff, right, a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Boston, greets a man arriving at Temple Israel, which allowed the Trinity congregation to hold Sunday service, Sunday, April 21, 2013, in Boston. Trinity is within the blocked-off area near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, where earlier in the week two bombs exploded.

Photo By Steven Senne

Holly Holland, right, of St. Louis, hugs her daughter Katie Holland while visiting a makeshift memorial in Boston, Monday, April 22, 2013. The memorial sits on Boylston Street, not far from where two bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, on Monday, April 15.

Photo By Steven Senne

A photograph of bombing victim Martin Richard, 8, is attached to a barricade in Boston, Monday, April 22, 2013, at a makeshift memorial on the street not far from where two bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 15, 2013. Richard was among three people killed in the bombings at the finish line of the race last Monday.

Photo By Elise Amendola

Medford and Somerville police line the street outside St. Joseph's Church in Medford, Mass. Monday, April 22, 2013 for the funeral of Boston Marathon bomb victim Krystle Campbell, 29.

Photo By Elise Amendola

An honor guard from area fire departments salute as pallbearers carry the casket of Boston Marathon bomb victim Krystle Campbell, 29, into St. Joseph's Church for her funeral in Medford, Mass. Monday, April 22, 2013.

Photo By Massachusetts State Police

In this Friday, April 19, 2013 photo taken by the Massachusetts State Police, obtained by The Associated Press and authenticated by a member of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, ATF and FBI agents check suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev for explosives and also give him medical attention after he was apprehended in Watertown, Mass., at the end of a tense day that began with his older brother, Tamerlan, dying in a getaway attempt. Tsarnaev lay hospitalized in serious condition under heavy guard Saturday as investigators continue piecing together the who and why of the two brothers involved in the deadly Boston Marathon bombings.

Photo By Steven Senne

Holly Holland, right, hugs her daughter Katie, center, as her husband Kevin Holland, left, all of St. Louis, looks while visiting a makeshift memorial in Boston, Monday, April 22, 2013. The memorial sits on Boylston St., not far from where two bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 15, 2013.

Photo By Federal Bureau of Investigation

FILE - This file photo provided Friday, April 19, 2013 by the Federal Bureau of Investigation shows Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. A court official says Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the surviving suspect in the bombings, is facing federal charges and has made an initial court appearance in his hospital room, Monday, April 22, 2013.

Photo By Elise Amendola

Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley comforts Patty Campbell and her son, Billy, after a funeral for her daugher, Krystle Campbell, 29, at St. Joseph's Church in Medford, Mass. Monday, April 22, 2013. Krystle Campbell is one of three victims killed in the Boston Marathon explosions.

Photo By Elise Amendola

Mourners leave the funeral for Boston Marathon bomb victim Krystle Campbell, 29, at St. Joseph's Church in Medford, Mass., Monday, April 22, 2013.

Photo By Elise Amendola

A priest comforts family members of Boston Marathon bomb victim Krystle Campbell after her funeral at St. Joseph's Church in Medford, Mass. Monday, April 22, 2013. At center is her mother, Patty Campbell, and her brother, Billy. At far right is Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley.

Photo By Elise Amendola

Mourners hug as they leave the funeral for Boston Marathon bomb victim Krystle Campbell, 29, at St. Joseph's Church in Medford, Mass. Monday, April 22, 2013. Hundreds of family and friends packed the church in Medford, Mass., for Campbell's funeral, while dozens more waited outside after being turned away.

Photo By Matt Rourke/Associated Press

A police officer walks along a barricade on Boylston Street near the finish line of Monday's Boston Marathon explosions, which killed at least three and injured more than 140, Thursday, April 18, 2013, in Boston. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Photo By Eric Gay/Associated Press

Runners take part in a memorial service and run to honor Boston Marathon victims, in Austin, Texas, Thursday, April 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Photo By Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Mourners attend a candlelight vigil in the aftermath of Monday's Boston Marathon explosions, which killed at least three and injured more than 140, Wednesday, April 17, 2013, at City Hall in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Photo By Uncredited/Associated Press

This combination of images released by the FBI on Thursday, April 18, 2013, show two images taken from surveillance video of who the FBI are calling suspect number 2, left, in white cap, and suspect number 1, right, in black cap, as they walk near each other through the crowd before the explosions at the Boston Marathon on Monday, April 15, 2013. (AP Photo/FBI)

Photo By Associated Press

This frame grab from a video released by the FBI on Thursday, April 18, 2013, shows what the FBI are calling suspect number 1, front, in black cap, and suspect number 2, in white cap, back right, walking near each other through the crowd in Boston on Monday, April 15, 2013, before the explosions at the Boston Marathon. (AP Photo/FBI)

Photo By -/AFP/Getty Images

This image taken from a video released by the FBI on April 18, 2013 shows a man with a backpack walking along the route of the Boston Marathon on April 15. The man and one other are being sought by the FBI in connection with the marathon bombing that killed three. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released the photos and videos of two men sought as suspects in the Boston bombings, urging the public to help identify them. "No bit of information... is too small for us to see," Richard DesLauriers, the agent in charge of the FBI's Boston office, told a press conference. == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE / MANDATORY CREDIT: "AFP PHOTO / FBI / NO SALES / NO MARKETING / NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS / DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS ==-/AFP/Getty Images

Photo By Spencer Platt/McClatchy-Tribune News Service

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama exit after attending an interfaith prayer service for victims of the Boston Marathon attack titled "Healing Our City," at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Thursday, April 18, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Pool photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images/MCT)

Photo By Susan Walsh/Associated Press

President Barack Obama speaks at the "Healing Our City: An Interfaith Service" at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston, Thursday, April 18, 2013. The service is dedicated to those who were gravely wounded or killed in Monday's bombing near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Photo By Spencer Platt/Getty Images

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 18: Runners pray at an interfaith prayer service for victims of the Boston Marathon attack titled "Healing Our City," and attended by President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on April 18, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. Authorities investigating the attack on the Boston Marathon have shifted their focus to locating the person who placed a black bag down and walked away just before the bombs went off. The twin bombings at the 116-year-old Boston race, which occurred near the marathon finish line, resulted in the deaths of three people and more than 170 others injured. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Photo By Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images

A man at the BoMA restaurant across the street from the Cathedral of the Holy Cross reacts to a television broadcast of an interfaith prayer service at the cathedral to honor the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings was being held April 18, 2013 in the South End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDASTAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images

Photo By Spencer Platt/McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino pauses after speaking at an interfaith prayer service for victims of the Boston Marathon attack titled "Healing Our City," at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Thursday, April 18, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Pool photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images/MCT)

Photo By Spencer Platt/Getty Images

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 18: Former Massachusetts Governor and 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney attends an interfaith prayer service for victims of the Boston Marathon attack titled "Healing Our City," where President Barack Obama spoke at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on April 18, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. Authorities investigating the attack on the Boston Marathon have shifted their focus to locating the person who placed a black bag down and walked away just before the bombs went off. The twin bombings at the 116-year-old Boston race, which occurred near the marathon finish line, resulted in the deaths of three people and more than 170 others injured. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Photo By Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Bob Cohen holds his wife Joyce as they pay their respects at a makeshift memorial near the finish line of Monday's Boston Marathon explosions, which killed at least three and injured more than 140, Thursday, April 18, 2013, in Boston. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Photo By Allen Breed/Associated Press

Ed Starbuck scrubs on his 5-year-old beagle, Rosie, as they stand vigil at a makeshift memorial to the Boston Marathon bombings on Thursday, April 18, 2013. The 57-year-old retiree says he rides the bus each day from Cape Cod to Boston to volunteer at the barricade _ and to help himself heal. (AP Photo/Allen Breed)

Photo By Associated Press

In this Wednesday, April 17, 2013 photo, Chinese hold pictures of Lu Lingzi, a Boston University graduate student from China who was killed Monday in the Boston Marathon explosions, as they hold candles to mourn for her in Shenyang in northeast China's Liaoning province. Lu was a graduate student studying mathematics and statistics and scheduled to receive her graduate degree in 2015. (AP Photo) CHINA OUT

Photo By Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Marathon runner Nathan Finney of Boston and his daughter Mckenna, 5, gather with others ahead of an interfaith service with President Barack Obama at Cathedral of the Holy Cross, held in the wake of Monday's Boston Marathon explosions, which killed at least three and injured more than 140, Thursday, April 18, 2013, in Boston. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Photo By Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images

A man at the BoMA restaurant across the street from the Cathedral of the Holy Cross watches US President Barrack Obama on television speak at the cathedral where an interfaith prayer service to honor the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings was being held April 18, 2013 in the South End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDASTAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images

Photo By Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Two young boys leave messages with chalk on a sidewalk near the finish line of Monday's Boston Marathon explosions, which killed at least three and injured more than 140, Thursday, April 18, 2013, in Boston. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

BOSTON — The 19-year-old charged with the Boston Marathon bombing communicated with his interrogators in writing, precluding the type of back-and-forth exchanges often crucial to establishing key facts and meaning, according to officials who cautioned they were still trying to verify what they were told and are also looking at his telephone and online communications.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and his brother appear to have been motivated by a radical brand of Islam but do not seem connected to any Muslim terrorist groups, said the U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly.

Tsarnaev was interrogated and charged Monday in his hospital room, where he was in serious condition with a gunshot wound to the throat and other injuries suffered during his attempted getaway. His older brother, Tamerlan, 26, died Friday after a fierce gunbattle with police.

The charges came just hours before a memorial service for one of the three people killed in the bombings, 23-year-old Boston University graduate student Lu Lingzi, was held at the school and attended by hundreds of people, including Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.

"She's gone but our memories of her are very much alive," said her father, Lu Jun, who spoke in his native tongue and was followed by an English interpreter. "An ancient Chinese saying says every child is actually a little Buddha that helps their parents mature and grow up."

Tsarnaev, a student at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, was charged with using and conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction. He was accused of joining with his brother in setting off the shrapnel-packed pressure-cooker bombs that killed Lu and two other people and wounded more than 200 on April 15.

The next step in the legal process against Tsarnaev is likely to be an indictment, in which federal prosecutors could add new charges. State prosecutors have said they expect to charge Tsarnaev separately in the killing of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer who was shot in his cruiser Thursday night on the campus in Cambridge.

After Tsarnaev is indicted in the bombing, he will have an arraignment in federal court, when he will be asked to enter a plea.

Under federal law, as a defendant charged with a crime that carries a potential death penalty, he is entitled to at least one lawyer who is knowledgeable about the law in capital cases. Federal Public Defender Miriam Conrad, whose office has been asked to represent Tsarnaev, filed a motion Monday asking that two death penalty lawyers be appointed to represent Tsarnaev, "given the magnitude of this case."

A probable cause hearing — at which prosecutors will spell out the basics of their case — was set for May 30. According to a clerk's notes of Monday's proceedings in the hospital, U.S. Magistrate Judge Marianne Bowler indicated she was satisfied that Tsarnaev was "alert and able to respond to the charges."

Tsarnaev did not speak during Monday's proceeding, except to answer "no" when he was asked if he could afford his own lawyer, according to the notes. He nodded when asked if he was able to answer some questions and whether he understood his rights.

The criminal complaint outlining the allegations shed no light on the motive for the attack. The two U.S. officials who spoke anonymously said preliminary evidence from the interrogation suggests the brothers were motivated by religious extremism but were apparently not involved with Islamic terrorist organizations.

The brothers, ethnic Chechens from Russia who had been living in the U.S. for about a decade, practiced Islam.

A statement released Monday by Kazakhstan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs bolstered the U.S. officials' comments about seeking details on the suspect's other modes of communication and his associations.

Two foreign nationals arrested Saturday on immigration violations are from the central Asian nation and may have known the suspects, the ministry said. U.S. authorities came across the students while searching for "possible links and contacts," it said.

Officials have not disclosed the names of the nationals, who the ministry said were found to have "violated the U.S. visa regime."

In the criminal complaint against Tsarnaev, investigators said he and his brother each placed a knapsack containing a bomb in the crowd near the finish line of the 26.2-mile race. The FBI said surveillance-camera footage showed Dzhokhar manipulating his cellphone and lifting it to his ear just instants before the two blasts.

After the first blast, a block away from Dzhokhar, "virtually every head turns to the east ... and stares in that direction in apparent bewilderment and alarm," the complaint says. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, "virtually alone of the individuals in front of the restaurant, appears calm."

He then quickly walked away, leaving a knapsack on the ground; about 10 seconds later, a bomb blew up at the spot where he had been standing, the FBI said.

The FBI did not say whether he was using his cellphone to detonate one or both of the bombs or whether he was talking to someone.

Among the details in the affidavit:

— Dzhokhar Tsarnaev had gunshot wounds to the head, neck, legs and hands when he was captured hiding out in a boat in a backyard in the Boston suburb of Watertown, authorities said.

— One of the brothers — it wasn't clear which one — told a carjacking victim during their getaway attempt, "Did you hear about the Boston explosion? I did that."

— The FBI said it searched Tsarnaev's dorm room at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth on Sunday and found BBs as well as a white hat and dark jacket that look like those worn by one of the suspected bombers in the surveillance photos the FBI released a few days after the attack.

Shortly after the charges were unveiled, Boston-area residents and many of their well-wishers — including President Barack Obama at the White House — observed a moment of silence at 2:49 p.m. — the moment a week earlier when the bombs exploded.

In addition to that and the memorial for Lu, who was from Shenyang, China, and studied statistics at BU, a funeral was held Monday at St. Joseph Church for another victim, Krystle Campbell, a 29-year-old restaurant manager who had gone to watch a friend finish the race. Services have not been announced for the third bombing victim, 8-year-old Martin Richard, of Boston.

As of Monday, 51 people remained hospitalized, three of them in critical condition. At least 14 people lost all or part of a limb; three of them lost more than one.